The Riders of
Dantewada
Riding Horses through a State of/in Conflict
Within the Education City in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh, children from in and around conflict ridden Bastar discover the sport of horse riding and with it, a new set of dreams to aspire for in life.
Meanwhile, everyone around them is stunned by their natural ability at horse-riding and their level of sportsmanship, which even has the Indian army sit up and take notice.
A short story on the Riders of Dantewada
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Commission by the District Magistrate’s Office, Dantewada, Chattisgarh
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In October 2024, filmmaker Aayush Chandrawanshi and I traveled to Dantewada, Chhattisgarh, to document the lives of Adivasi children at the Education City of Jawanga, who have been learning horse riding since the start of this year. Our journey took us from their participation in a ‘Know Your Army’ Celebration Day in Raipur back to their training grounds in Dantewada - where seasoned horse trainers of the Army are astounded by the progress they’ve made in such a short span of time.
This story is about these children of Bastar.
Through their experiences, we explored the role of education in shaping opportunities and participate in the workings of a Nation, and the importance of making it culturally and contextually relevant. The observations raised sensitive questions about how education systems can balance local identity with broader aspirations.
What is the conflict in Bastar?
Is this Education context sensitive to the people of Bastar?
What is the role of a sport like Horse Riding in integration of a people with the Army and the State?
We also examined the human - animal relationship, particularly through horse riding, which plays a significant role in the children’s development and understanding of empathetic life.
‘The Riders of Dantewada’ offers a closer look at the intersections of education, culture, and environment in the lives of these young learners in a conflict torn region.